Boeing 777...the benchmark !
In the early 1990 the worldwide aircraft industry was undergoing significant changes. The demand for large jumbo jets like Boeing 747 was declining while more orders for smaller jets was on the line. The industry also wanted them to be more efficient and could fly longer routes without refueling, quick and in a record time..!
Now if you were the manager of Boeing what would you do considering the competition, and demand..!!
Surprisingly Boeing's answer to these challenges was Boeing 777!!!
Objectives of the project:
1. To produce the most reliable and efficient two engine aircraft ever made
2. To design and build the airplane quickly and efficiently!
How would you do that... ??
Ignore the traditional methods !!
Be creative ... and cost efficient..
Virtual Teams
Definition:
Groups of geographically and or organizationally dispersed coworkers who use informaiton technology such as the Internet intranet, videoconfrencing and other products to communicate and work with one another.
Boeing created 238 virtual design teams to work on separate components of the airplane simultaneously!
How did it work:
* The teams were mostly Boeing's employees and some customers and suppliers (talk about coopetition)
* They created a sophisticated and robust computer network ---------------> talk about paperless working environment
* Creating of paperless prototypes of the components of the airplane
* Engineers assembled the simulation virtually rather than building MOCKUPS
* Only a NOSE MOCKUP was required to check critical wiring
* The use of 238 teams
* A network of 1,700 individual computer systems
* Links to Japan, Boeing facilities in Philadelphia, Wichita, and Seattle and other locations
* Teams included people in the design process, customers, operaters, down to line mechanics.
Advantages:
* Flexibility
* Employees can work with each other regardless the location, time zone, or organizational affliation
* Cost efficient
* Teammates do not meet face to face so you can avoid downtime associated with traditional meetings
Time of manufacturing:
Two Years ONLY
Quality:
* Best ..and used as a benchmark especially at the International Space Station
* Reduction of errors and defects by 50%
* Number of passanger : 550 (exceeds Boeing 747)
* Favorable passenger capacity and fuel attributes
* Designed with pilot and crew efficienceis in mind
Boeing named the first 777 placed in service "WORKING TOGETHER" as a tribute to the project
A Last Dot:
How ready are we to first work in teams, and then work virtually !
2 comments:
I think we are already there :) In the UAE, we have the capacity and the resources to do this virtual team.. Actually, i'm working with 10 guys and guyzat from the UAE on a business project, i've only met them twice. We have one Managing Director, and the rest of us are only virtual members most of the time :)
DG: you reminded me of "there is no "i" in team"
Ra7al: first of all its such a pleasure to read your comment.. :)
Secondly.. PRINTAHOLICS is sure a project we all got excited about when it was first annnounced back during the summer.. questions like "how easy was it for all of you to sit together around a virtual table... how flexible were the decisions regarding the logistics of your project.. and most importantly.. where did you reach so far.. i believe you were expecting to launch on August.. is the fact that you are doing this virtually the reason behind the delay ?
Am i asking a lot of questions? you can ignore them if you wish.. you can call it the curiousity of a ... dot ! : )
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